Water-raising connection for steam-generators



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

W. BURNHAM. WATER RAISING CONNECTION FOR STEAM'GENERATORS. No. 394,822. Patented Dee. 18, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheefs-$heet 2.

, W.,B URNHAM. WATER RAISING CONNECTION FOR STEAM GENERATORS.

v1x10. 394,822. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

W: ARM I 8 8488mm. I

PETER; Ml-Hhngnphm wanumuqdc.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

VAT/PER BURNHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATER-=RAISING CONNECTION FOR STEAM-GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,822, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed February 21, 1888. serial No. 264,806. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IVALTER BURNHAM, of Chicago, in the county of ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'ater-Return Connections for Steam-Generators 5 and I do hereby declare that the following a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to improve the operation of the system of pipe-connections for steam-generators invented by \Villiam Irving, of Chicago, Illinois, and described in his two applications for Letters Patent, Serial Nos. 2633M and 263,225, filed February 7, 1888, and illustrated in its general features in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

The improvements herein described and claimed relate, first, to provisions forpreventing the breaking or separation of the body of water or liquid column in the delivery end of the return-pipe of said Irving system, and, secondly, to a provision for improving the action of the low-pressure space within said return-pipe as a condensing-chamber.

The nature of my improvements will be understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 of said drawings represents the Irving system referred to in that form thereof wherein the water of condensation and entrainment is raised from a point in a steamsupply pipe below the water-level of the generator in its return to the latter. Fig. 2 shows the leg of the return-pipe having its end upturned, but terminating below the watenlevel in the generator. Fig. 3 shows the leg of the return-pipe provided with a longer upturned end terminating in the steam-space of the boiler, the U thus formed extending in the water-space as an incident to the location of said U within the generator. Fig. 4 shows the return-pipe provided with a U essentially like that of Fig. 3, but outside the generator and having the open end of said pipe terminating in the steam-space of the generator. Fig. 5 shows the Irving return-pipe made straight and provided with a deflecting-plate below its open and downwardly-directed end for the deflection of rising bubbles of air or gas, so as to prevent their entering the return-pipe. Fig. 6 is a top view of the deflecting-plate obtained by horizontal section of the return- 5 5 pipe in the line 6 (J of Fig. 5. The foregoing figures have reference to the improvement first above mentioned. Figs. 7 and 8 relate to the improvement in the low-pressure or condensing chamber of the Irving return-pipe, Fig. 7 showing the improvement as consisting simply in an enlargement of the return-pipe at a point in the leg thereof above the valve and escapepipe, and Fig. 8 showing one form of means by which such an enlargement of the return-pipeas a steam-spacemay be varied at pleasure. Fig. 9 shows an enlargement of the return-pipe adjustable vertically upon a part or branch of said return-pipe as another form of means by which the steamspace in such enlargement may be varied at pleasure.

First briefly describing the Irving system as illustrated in Fig. 1, A is a steam-generator; B, a steam-pipe leading therefrom, which in this instance extends to a point below the water-level in the generator.

0 is a return-pipe communicating with the steam-pipe B at a point below the waterlevel of the generator, thence rising to a point above the generator and descending into the Water-space of the generator, where it terminates in an open downwardly-directed end. Said return-pipe O is shown as provided with a stop-valve, C, a check-valve, C and a valved branch, C beyond the valves 0 and C measuring from the generator.

13 is a prolongation of the steam-pipe B for the conduct of steam to one or more engines or other steam-using devices, and said pipe B is provided with a valve, B

As more fully set forth in one of said Irving applications for patent, the operation of this system is to force the water of condensa tion formed in the steam-pipe B and the Wa- 5 ter entrained into said steam-pipe from the generator upward through the pipe 0 and to deliver the same into the leg thereof, through which it falls ultimately into the generator. In this operation the water returned to the loo generator through the pipe 0 is carried therein by the steam in the form of small detached bodies, waves, or particles suspended in the steam, and the movement of the steam through the return-pipe is due to the difference in pressure between the steam-pipe and the lowpressure chamber in the return-pipe. It is desirable to the continued successful operation of the apparatus that the aggregate of the detached water bodies in the riser or as cendingportion of the return-pipe C shall not be greater than the mass of water contained in the leg of said return-pipe which terminates in the generator. As the water column will rise in the leg of the return-pipe to a considerable distance above the water-level of the generator by reason of the unequal pressures upon opposite ends of said water column necessary to be established for the purpose of giving a desired flow of steam through the return-pipe, it has been found necessary in some cases to prolong the leg of the returnpipe an objectionable distance above the water-level of the generator. Manifestly it is desirable, at least in many situations, that said prolongation of the leg shall be as short as possible, and it is also plain that the more compact or solid the mass of water within said leg the shorter said leg may be. hen the leg of the return-pipe terminates in an open. end which is directed downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, it has been found that bubbles of air or rise into the leg of the return-pipe and separate the water body into parts, so that a mass of water within said leg thus separated will occupy a greater vertical space, and thus require the leg to be made longer than it would otherwise need to be. It is one object of my invention to remedy this difficulty, and, as a general statement, this is done bylocating the mouth of the return-pipe out of the course of the rising bubbles.

In Fig. 2 the remedy is provided by bending the lower end of the leg of the returnpipe upward, as shown at C". In this construction it is contei'nplated that the leg shall terminate below the water-line of the generator, so that the water in the generator and that in the leg constitute in effect a single or continuous body. Another construction having the mouth of the leg in the waterspace of the generator and attaii'iing the same end is shown in Fig. 5, where a deflectingplate, C, is suspended below the open end of the leg by arms 0 c, leaving a space between the open end of the leg and the deflectingplate. This deflecting-plate being of sufficient breadth relative to the size of the opening in the leg, as indicated, serves to deflect the course of the rising bubbles of air or gas to one side or the other of the mouth of the leg, and thus to prevent their entering the latter.

In Fig. 3 the leg of the return-pipe is provided with a longer upturned end reaching above the water-level and terminating in the steam-space of the generator. In this construction it will be necessary to charge the leg with its water column to prevent .the escape of the contents of the boiler through said return-pipe; and to this end the upper teases end of said leg is provided with a funnel, c, with a valve, below it, which may represent any means through which water may be iiltroduced to the U preparatory to putting the apparatus into operation. When steam-pressure is generated in the boiler, the first effect will be to depress the water in the upturned end of the leg and to cause it to rise proportionately in the dcscemling portion of said leg; but by the accretion of water in the latter from the steampipe the column therein will gradually descend until the upturned end of the leg is full, after which it will remain full (exceptin g as the opposing pressures upon the water column momentarily fluctuate) and will. discharge at the mouth as fast as water is delivered into the descending part of the leg. In this construction it is manifest that the mouth of the leg is located outside the course of the bubbles which arise through thewater, for the reason that such course of the bubbles terminates at the water surface.

In Fig. 4 essentially the same construction is shown as in Fig. 3, the only difference being that the U in the leg is located outside the generator. In the arrangement of this figure the checlcvalve maybe desirably located in the bend at the end of the upturned part of the U.

In one of the Irving a ;)plications referred to one figure of the drawings shows the leg of the return-pipe enterin the teed-pipe outside the generator and the feed-pipe entering the generator in a horizontal direction below the water surface. This construction only partially exempt from the difficulty sought to be remedied by the above constructions, except when the feed-water is entering, in which case there is, of course, a continued flow of water from the mouth of the feed-pipe into the generator. \Vhen the feed-water is not being supplied, there is, as in all cases of the return, a fluctuation or short ebb and flow of the water in the leg constantly taking place, and on the ebb bubbles rising past the mouth of the feed-pipe are taken in and sometimes reach the leg of the return. It is of course understood that the bubbles which enter the return-pipe as arranged by Irving ultimately collapse or condense; but there is, nevertheless, such a number of such bubbles uncondensed in the water column within the returnpipe as to be et the objection herein sought tobe remedied.

Next, referring to the improvement in the condensing-chamber, it should be remarked that (as fully explained in one of the Irving applications above referred to) the interior of the return-pipe C from the surface of the water in the leg thereof and extending indelinitely in said pipe is properly a coniilensingchamber, and that the condensation of steam therein may be the occasion of the rush of steam from the steam-pipe through said return-pipe, by which the water is carried upward therein and into the depending leg thereof. There is manifestly a point in this chamber toward which pressure tends from both directions, which point will depend for its precise location upon the distribution of the said space within the return-pipei. 6., in the rel ative proportions of the parts of said space and upon the location of the region of greatest heat radiation. It is also manifest that greater activity and certainty in the operation of the condensing-chamber will be obtained by locatin this center of equilibrity of pressure forces as near as practicable to the surface of the water in the leg of the return-pipe. To attain this result, I have provided an enlargement in the return-pipe near the generator, as indicated at 'C of Fig. 7. Such a local enlargement of the return-pipe obviously gives a greater radiating-surface in said pipe at the point of its enlargement, and not only results in bringing the focus of forces (so to speak) nearer to the place where such enlargement is located, but increases the force, dependent upon radiation or condensation. This enlargement of the condensing-chamber is preferably located in the vertical part of the return-pipe; but it has been found effective in only less degree when located in the upper horizontal portion of said reti'irn-pipe near to the leg.

In Fig. 8 the enlargement C of the condens ing-chamber is situated outside the vertical leg proper, but is connected therewith by a short branch pipe. Said Fig. 8 also shows the enlargement (J of the condensing-chamber connectedby a swivel-joint, to the returnpipe proper, by which said chan'iber C may berotated out of the vertical or upright position (shown in full lines) and into the horizontal position, (shown by dotted lines,-) or into a position inclined either above or below the horizontal. In a horizontal posit-ion or in any inclined position said chamber 0 will in the use of the apparatus become filled in greater or less part with water, whereby its interior steam-space will be proportionately reduced. The chamber thus constructed is therefore adjustable in the dimensions of its steam-space, and by such adjustment of its steam capacity it becomes possible to vary the force of the apparatus as derived from the operation of the condensing-cliamber, as may be desirable under changes in temperature Fig. 9 illustrates another construction by which the steam-space of the enlargement (1 of the condeusing-chamber may be varied at pleasure. In this case the parts of the returnpipe which enter the enlargement C are screwthreaded for a considerable distance and have their ends separated. The chamber (1 may thus be raised or lowered upon such screwthreaded parts of the return-pipe to any desired extent, lu-inging the end of the lower pipe to a greater or less distance from the top of the chamber. Water will fill the chamber to the top of this lower pipe, and the space above the water, which is the ett'ective steamspace of the chamber, therefore variable,

with the same results that have been mentioned in connection with the construction of Fig. 8.

Other means for varying the size of the condensing-chamber may be employed, and I do not wish to be restricted to the particular devices for this purpose which I have shown; nor do I wish to be limited to the insertion of a special enlargement, as C, since I have found that in some situations the use of a smaller size of pipe in the ascending part of the return-pipe than in the leg, or that in the legand upper horizontal part of the returnpipe, gives the proper distribution of the condensing-space.

In another application filed by me simultaneously herewith is shown a pipe connected with the steam-pipe and answering in mode of operation and in its function of raising the water of entrainment and condensation from the steam-pipe, but having its delivery end outside the generator. The enlargement of the condensing-chamber herein described and claimed may be used in the same way and with the same result in said externallydelivering pipe as in the pipe when made to deliver into the generator, and it is the purpose to herein cover said enlargement in all uses of such pipe.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, witha generator and a steam-pipe, of a return-pipe communicating with both the steam-pipe and the generator,

said return-pipe having a descending portion which contains a pressure-balancing water column, substantially as described, and term inating in the generator by an open mouth located out of the course of the rising bubbles.

9. The combination, with a generator and a steam-pipe, of a return-pipe leading from the steam-pipe into the generator and having therein a body of water which forms an obstacle to the escape of the contents of the generator, which body of water is contained in a bent or U-shaped part of said return-pipe.

3. The combination, with a generator and a steam-pipe, of a return-pipe leading from the steam-pipe into the steam-space of the generator and having therein a body of water which forms an obstacle to the escape of steam from the generator, which body of water is contained in a bent or U-shaped part of said return-pipe.

t. The combination, with a steam-generator and a steam-pipe leading therefrom, of an ascending pipe connected with the steam-pipe for the conduction of water upwardly therefrom by the operation of continuous condensation and continuous steam movement in said water-conducting pipe, the latter pipe be ing provided with an obstacle to entrance at its delivery end and having a part thereof near the obstacle of larger diameter than the ascending portion.

5. The combination, with a generator, a steam-pipe leading therefrom, and a return or water-lifting pipe connected with the steamscending leg of the pipe (,1, made in two parts, having their ends separated, of an enlarged chamber nmvably iiiied to the ends of said parts, substantial as and for the purpose IO set forth.

In testin'iony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VAUIER BURNIIAM.

Ni in esses:

M. DAYTON, TAYLOR E. BROWN. 

